JPH08286483A - Toner supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a toner supplying device capable of always and stably supplying toner by preventing the occurrence of toner blocking. CONSTITUTION: A main bottle 52 and a buffer bottle 62 are connected to constitute a toner bottle 50. At the unused time the toner is housed only in the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62 is still empty. Then, the toner bottle is attached to a supplying device body not shown in the figure and the toner is supplied to a developing device from the supplying device body from the main bottle 52 through the buffer bottle 62. A large quantity of toner discharge from the main bottle 52 at the start of use is temporarily stored in the buffer bottle 62 and then, a fixed amount of toner is supplied to the developing device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic method is used in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photoreceptor, the latent image is developed with charged colored particles (toner), and the toner image is transferred to a recording paper. Copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc. are widely used. In the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic method, when the toner is consumed from the developing unit, the toner is replenished.

As a toner replenishing device, a spiral groove is provided on the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical toner container (bottle), and the toner bottle is placed in a horizontal state and rotated around the axis of the cylinder, whereby the toner in the bottle is replenished. It is well known in the art that the toner is conveyed to an opening provided on one end surface of the bottle, and the toner is supplied from the opening to the developing unit via the main body of the replenishing device.

An example of a conventional toner replenishing device will be described with reference to the drawings. 9 and 10, a toner replenishing device main body includes a toner container mounting portion 11 in which the toner container 1 is mounted, and a toner for accommodating a predetermined amount of toner and replenishing the toner to a developing device (not shown) as needed. It is composed of a toner hopper 21 which is a storage portion.

The toner container 1 includes a bottle 2 which is a container body formed of a resin material or the like for accommodating toner therein.
An opening provided on one end side (bottle 2 in FIG. 10)
The outer cap 3 and the like are attached so as to cover the right end surface of the. On the inner peripheral surface of the bottle 2, a spiral rib 2a for guiding the stored toner in the direction of the bottle opening is formed. A gear 5 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface near the opening of the bottle 2 in the bottle circumferential direction. A convex engaging portion 3 a is formed at the center of the outer cap 3. The protrusion 4a of the inner cap 4 is fitted into the engaging portion 3a, and the outer cap 3 supports the inner cap 4.
Further, an opening 3b serving as a toner discharge port is formed on the peripheral surface of the outer cap 3.

On the other hand, the toner container mounting portion 11 has a container holding portion 16 for holding the toner container 1. A roller 15 that rotatably supports the bottle 2 is provided at the tip of the container holding portion 16. In the container holder 16,
A gear 32 that meshes with the gear 5 of the bottle 2 is provided. The gear 32 is driven by the motor 31.
Further, a lid-shaped holder 12 is attached to the upper surface of the container holding portion 16 on the base side to support the head (opening end) of the toner container 1 in an airtight manner. An opening 19 is provided in the center of the end surface of the holder 12, and the opening 1
The rotary shaft 13 is fitted into the shaft 9. A concave engagement portion 13 a that fits into the engagement portion 3 a of the outer cap 3 of the toner container 1 is formed on the inner portion of the rotating shaft 13. Then, the opening / closing holder 14 covering the rotary shaft 13 protruding from the holder 12
Is provided.

Further, a toner hopper 21 is provided below the toner container mounting portion 11 so as to be connected thereto. Inside the toner hopper 21, a spiral agitator 22 that rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 10 is provided. Below the agitator 22, a toner supply roller 23, which is also rotatably supported, is provided. The lower surface side of the toner replenishing roller 23 faces the toner replenishing port 21b communicating with a developing device (not shown). This toner supply port 2
A slitter 24 is arranged on 1b so as to contact the toner supply roller 23.

In the toner replenishing device configured as described above, the rib 5 formed integrally with the gear 5 of the bottle 2 is used.
By engaging a and b with the flange portion 32a formed on the gear 32, the movement of the bottle 2 in the axial direction is stopped, and the opening / closing holder 14 is slid while being rotated by about 90 degrees. Rotate and slide the outer cap 3. As a result, the opening 3b of the outer cap 3 which is normally located on the side surface of the bottle 2 is gradually opened and directed downward so that the opening 3b is aligned with the opening 12a of the holder 12 and the opening 21a of the toner hopper 21. Then, when the gear 32 is rotated by the motor 31, the rotation causes the bottle 2 to rotate around the axis of the cylinder via the gear 5. As described above, since the spiral rib 2a is formed on the inner circumference of the bottle 2, the toner contained in the bottle 2 is conveyed toward the opening. As a result, the toner in the bottle 2 drops into the toner hopper 21, and is further supplied to the developing device via the agitator 22 and the toner replenishing roller 23.

[0009]

However, in the conventional toner replenishing device as described above, the amount of toner discharged from the bottle 2 is not constant, and the most toner is discharged at the start of use of a new toner container. The toner is discharged, and the amount of discharge decreases as the toner end is approached. However, it is possible to supply almost a fixed amount except at the beginning of use, but the amount of discharge is 1 at the beginning of use and after a lapse of a predetermined time.
The difference may be 0 times or more. As described above, when a large amount of toner is discharged at the start of use of a new toner container, the toner supply port, that is, the opening 3b of the outer cap 3, the opening 12a of the holder 12, the opening 21a of the toner hopper 21, and the like in the above conventional example are blocked. There is a problem that toner blocking, which is blocked by the toner that has formed into a ring shape, may occur, making it impossible to supply toner to the developing device. Then, once the toner blocking occurs, the accumulated toner is solidified, and the toner replenishment becomes more difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner replenishing device which solves the above-mentioned problem of toner blocking in the conventional toner replenishing device and can always perform stable toner replenishment.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a toner container in which an inner surface of a cylindrical container has a spiral toner carrying groove, and an opening is formed at one end of the container, and the container. And a toner replenishing device main body for revolving the container around the axis of the cylinder to send out the toner contained in the container from the opening to replenish it to the developing device. Provide an empty container adjacent to the container,
The problem can be solved by replenishing the toner from the toner container to the developing device through the empty container.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sealing member for sealing the opening of the empty container,
It is proposed that the sealing member for the empty container and the sealing member for sealing the opening of the toner container can be opened and closed at the same time.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes that the sealing members of the empty container and the toner container are sealing members attached to respective openings.
Further, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes that the empty container is configured separately from the toner container, and the empty container and the toner container are detachably provided.

[0014]

The empty container is disposed adjacent to the toner container, and the toner sent from the toner container is replenished to the developing device from the replenishing device main body through the empty container. As a result, a large amount of discharged toner at the start of use of a new toner container is temporarily stored in an empty container, and then a fixed amount of toner is replenished from the main body to the developing device, thereby preventing toner blocking.

Other functions will be apparent from the description of the embodiments below.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a toner bottle used in a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The toner bottle 50 shown in this figure includes a main bottle 52 and a buffer bottle 62. In this figure, the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62 are shown separated from each other, but both can be connected as shown in FIG. 7.
Both bottles 52 and 62 are provided with spiral toner carrying grooves 52a and 62a for carrying the stored toner to the openings. Further, openings 53 and 63 are provided on one end surfaces (right end surfaces in FIG. 1) of both bottles 52 and 62. The shape of the opening of both bottles shall be the same.

FIG. 2 shows the opening 53 of the main bottle 52.
1 shows the cross-sectional shape of the bottle main body connected to FIG.
FIG. As shown in this figure, the diameter of the bottle end face of the bottle main body connected to the opening 53 is reduced by the closing portion 52b. The cross-sectional shape of the buffer bottle 62 has the same shape. And the constricted part 5
Two drive contact portions 51 are provided in a portion where the bottle width is narrowed from 2b to the opening 53. The drive contact portion 51 is for engaging with a drive transmission portion of the buffer bottle 62 described later to transmit the rotation of the main bottle 52 to the buffer bottle 62.

FIG. 3 shows the opening 53 of the main bottle 52.
It is a BB front view of FIG. 1 which shows the end surface shape of the side. As shown in this figure, an opening 53 is provided by connecting an opening 53 to a closing part 51b that closes the bottle end surface of the portion where the drive contact part 51 is provided, and an opening 53a is formed. The front shape of the buffer bottle 62 on the opening 63 side has the same shape.

FIG. 4 shows the opening 6 of the buffer bottle 62.
3 is a rear view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, showing an end face shape on the side opposite to FIG. As shown in this figure, the rear opening 6 is formed on the end face of the bottle.
4 is provided and an opening 64a is formed. The rear opening 64 has a length in the axial direction of the bottle 62 as shown in FIG. 7, and the sealing member 66 is bonded thereto. By interposing the seal member 66 between the opening 53 of the main bottle and the rear opening 64 of the buffer bottle, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the connecting portion of both bottles. Further, two drive transmission parts 61 are formed on the end surface of the bottle.

FIG. 5 shows the rear opening 6 of the buffer bottle 62.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. As shown in this figure, the drive transmission portion 61 of the buffer bottle 62 is
It extends rearward from the bottle end surface, that is, to the main bottle 52 side (left side in the figure).

FIG. 6 shows the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62 in the vicinity of the openings 53 and 63, which is indicated by D- in FIG.
FIG. As shown in this figure, the bottles 52,
The bottle diameter of the bottle 62 is narrowed by the bottleneck portions 52b and 62b and is narrowed, and is connected to the openings 53 and 63. Further, the toner conveying grooves 52a and 62a are closed by the closed portions 52b and 62a.
It is formed up to the vicinity of b, and is further inherited to the toner transport slopes 55 and 65 provided in the narrow width portion where the bottle diameter is narrowed by the narrowing portions 52b and 62b.

In this embodiment, the toner bottle 50
Is configured by connecting the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62, but in the unused state, that is, the state before opening, the toner is stored only in the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62 becomes empty. Has become. And
The openings 53 and 63 of both bottles are the cap 5 shown in FIG.
It is sealed by 6, 58.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing the toner bottle 50 in use. As shown in this figure, the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62 are connected to each other, and a spring (not shown) of the main body of the replenishing device is urged from the rear side (the side opposite to the opening of the main bottle 52) to be in close contact with the main bottle 52. ing. And caps 56 and 58 for sealing both bottles
Are connected by a connecting member 57. When replenishing the toner in this embodiment, the toner bottle 50 before being unsealed
Is attached to the main body of the toner replenishing device (not shown), and the knob 59 provided at the tip of the cap 58 is pulled to open both the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62. The main body of the toner replenishing device and the bottle opening mechanism thereof are the same as the main body of the toner replenishing device of the conventional example described with reference to FIGS.

When the toner bottle 50 is rotated after opening the caps 56 and 58, the toner contained in the main bottle 52 is sent to the buffer bottle 62 from the opening 53 of the main bottle 52. Then, the toner is further sent out from the opening 63 of the buffer bottle 62 and supplied to the developing device (not shown) via the toner replenishing device main body.

At the start of use of the toner bottle 50, the amount of toner discharged from the main bottle 52 is considerably larger than that after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, the discharged toner is temporarily stored in the initially empty buffer bottle 62, and then the toner is discharged from the main bottle 52 by a predetermined amount, so that the buffer bottle 62 is discharged.
Also discharges a certain amount of toner. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of toner blocking that occurs when a large amount of toner flows out at once when the toner bottle is used.

In the toner replenishing device of this embodiment, the toner bottle 50 is provided as a separate component in the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62, and both of them are detachable. Therefore, the buffer bottle 62 can be repeatedly used, which can contribute to cost reduction and resource protection. However, the both may be integrally configured, and an empty container portion acting as a buffer bottle may be provided at the tip of the toner storage portion of the toner bottle.

Further, instead of the caps 56 and 58 for sealing the main bottle 52 and the buffer bottle 62, as shown in FIG. 8, each bottle opening is sealed by a vinyl sheet-like sealing member 60. Good. Opening 5
3. Affix the seal member 60 to both 3 and the connecting member 57,
By pulling the connecting member 57 in the direction of arrow K,
The seal member 60 is torn off from the opening 52, and the opening 5
Open 3. The same applies to the opening 63 of the buffer bottle 62. By sealing the opening of the bottle with the vinyl sheet-shaped sealing member 60, the opening of the toner bottle can be facilitated and the cost can be reduced by the shape simpler than the cap.

[0028]

As described above, according to the toner supply device of the present invention, the empty container adjacent to the toner container is provided,
The toner sent from the toner container is replenished to the developing device from the replenishing device main body via the empty container, so that the toner blocking that occurs when a large amount of toner flows out at once at the start of use of the toner bottle is avoided. be able to.

According to the structure of claim 2, even when the empty container is disposed adjacent to the toner container, the sealing member for the empty container and the sealing member for the toner container can be opened and closed at the same time. A similar opening mechanism can be used.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sealing member for the toner container and the empty container is a sealing member attached to the openings of the toner container and the empty container. The simple shape can reduce the cost.

According to the structure of claim 4, since the empty container formed separately from the toner container is detachably provided from the toner container, the empty container can be repeatedly used, which contributes to cost reduction and resource protection. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a toner bottle used in an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional shape of the toner bottle, which is shown in FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an end surface on the opening side of the toner bottle, FIG.
It is a BB front view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a rear view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, showing an end surface shape on the rear opening side of the buffer bottle.

5 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 4, showing the vicinity of the rear opening of the buffer bottle.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 1, showing the vicinity of the openings of the main bottle and the buffer bottle.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a usage state of the toner bottle shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another example of a sealing member for a bottle opening.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional toner supply device.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main body of the toner supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner container 11 Toner container mounting part 11 16 Container holding part 21 Toner hopper 50 Toner bottle 52 Main bottle 51 Drive contact part 52a, 62a Toner conveying groove 52b, 62b Closure part 53, 63 Opening part 56, 58 Cap 57 Connecting member 59 Knob for opening 60 Vinyl sheet-shaped sealing member 61 Drive transmission part 62 Buffer bottle 64 Rear opening

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner container in which an inner surface of a cylindrical container has a spiral toner transport groove and an opening is formed at one end of the container, and the container is mounted, and the container is rotated about an axis of the cylinder. In a toner replenishing device having a replenishing device main body that replenishes the toner stored in the container from the opening and replenishes it to the developing device, an empty container adjacent to the toner container is provided, A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner from the main body to the developing device through the empty container. 2. A sealing member that seals the opening of the empty container is provided, and the sealing member of the empty container and the sealing member that seals the opening of the toner container can be opened and closed at the same time. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein the sealing member for the empty container and the sealing member for the toner container is a sealing member attached to each opening. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the empty container is formed separately from the toner container, and the empty container and the toner container are detachably provided.